Overview and Background: Unit: Expository Writing

 

Wow, I Didn’t Know That WS, Are all standards assessed, Would students be able to complete Task without showing understanding.  The True Story of the Three Little Pigs ???    See Task

 

Name:  Stephanie Thalmann

 

Cheney Elementary : Grades 4

 

Title:

Expository Writing

Topics:

Writing

Time Frame:

2 weeks

Start Date:

December

 

Other Designers:

 

Summary:
This unit will look at expository writing

Print Materials Needed: 

Examples of expository writing

Wolves by Seymour Simon

Resources:

Microsoft Word

Wow!!  I Didn’t Know That! handout

Animal Adventures—Wolves (VCR)

KWL chart

Wolves by Seymour Simon

Read Looking to the North

 

Resource Attachments:

http://www.cheney268.com/4th/Expository/ExpositoryWriting.htm

Internet Resource Links:

http://tiger.towson.edu/users/lrosas1/wolves.htm

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/wolves/

http://www.yahooligans.com/content/animals/species/4030.html

http://www.enchantedlearning.com/subjects/mammals/dog/wolfprintouts.shtml

http://www.cheney268.com/Learning/Organizers/KWLChart.htm

http://share.esd105.wednet.edu/Public/Parents/UnitInfo.cfm?ID_UNIT=922

 

Notes:

 

 

Stage 1: Identify Desired Results

 

State:

KS

Title:

Writing 2

Standard(s):

Standard 2: Learners write effectively for a variety of audiences, purposes, and contexts.
Benchmark 1: A proficient writer uses ideas that are well developed, clear and interesting.
Benchmark 3: The proficient writer uses organization that enhances the reader’s understanding.
Benchmark 5: The proficient writer uses clear and fluent sentences.
Benchmark 6: The proficient writer uses standard American English conventions.
Benchmark 7: The proficient writer uses a writing process that includes preparation, drafting, revising, editing, and publishing to produce a written document.
Benchmark 8: The proficient writer uses writing as a tool for learning throughout the curriculum

 

Understandings:

Good writing has form.

 

Essential Questions:

What makes a great writing?
How can you write ideas clearly?

 

Knowledge and Skills:

K

The main ideas and supporting details about wolves.

 

S

Write an expository paper using facts they have learned about wolves.

 

Stage 2: Determine Acceptable Evidence

 

Assessment Summary:
Students will research to find factual information about wolves and write a short expository piece. A wide variety and sources of materials should be presented to the students to enable all learners to access information regardless of their reading level (videos by National Geographic, books ranging from picture books to more detailed children's encyclopedia).

Student Directions:

The Truth About Wolves
As a staff reporter for Nature magazine, you have been asked to research to find factual information about wolves and write a short expository piece for the magazine. You need to include a wide variety and sources of materials to provide a realistic view of wolves to our readers. 

 

Create Inspiration web to demonstrate organization?????

Rubric:

 

Other assessment evidence to be collected:

Pre-Assessment:  complete KWL chart

Complete the worksheet, Wow, I Didn’t Know That.

 

Stage 3: Plan Learning Experiences and Instruction

 

Learning Activities:

Students will fill out a KWL chart, then watch the VCR of Animal Adventures, Wolf Adventures.

Students will study wolves and write an expository piece stating facts about wolves.

Pre-Assessment:  complete KWL chart

Watch VCR about wolves- Animal Adventures, Wolf Adventures.

Complete the worksheet, Wow, I Didn’t Know That.

Write an expository piece on wolves.

Complete KWL chart.

Kids will learn about wolves from several different sources. They will read and discuss pages from a wolf activity book and then read and discuss Wolves by Seymour Simon. Some of the questions to be discussed include:
   1. What words describe the wolf of our imaginations?
   2. How are wolves like lions and dogs? Why is their reputation so different?
   3. What genre is this book? How do you know?
   4. Put things that you read about into these categories: habitats, colors, personalities, appearances.
   5. Compare some of the subspecies of wolves.
   6. What special characteristics make wolves excellent hunters? (teeth, strong legs, sense of hearing, sense of sight)
   7. How do wolves communicate with each other?
   8. Be able to put into proper sequence the life cycle of a wolf.
   9. Describe the wolf hierarchy within a pack. 

 

Performance Task